What is the evidence from the Qur’an and Sunnah for those who permit plucking body hair, in response to Sheikh Al-Albani’s statement: "There is no evidence for the permissibility of plucking body hair, and the Hadith of an-Nams is general, with nothing to restrict it to the eyebrows only or the face"?
Scholars have differed regarding the meaning of an-namṣ which is forbidden. Some said it refers to plucking facial hair, while others said it means removing any facial hair by any means whatsoever. Some limited it to the eyebrows, and others said it includes every alteration of Allah's creation without permission from the Lawgiver (Sharī'ah). This latter view is favored by some contemporary scholars, such as Sheikh Al-Albani and Sheikh Ibn 'Uthaymeen, with the latter providing a detailed explanation of the different types of hair removal, distinguishing between what is commanded, what is forbidden, and what is unmentioned.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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